Baby rattle



BABY RAT'ILE 2 Shoots-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 26, 1947 m MN M s n 3 WM W I v n 5 A w a n m I F m m w W mm C- I l atented Oct. 11, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,484,159 I v BABY BATTLE Charles A. Flynn, In, Phoebu8, Va. Application September 26, 1947, Serial No. 776,382 Claims. (01. 240-6.4)

My invention relates to a baby rattle, and more particularly a baby rattle that will light up with lights of different colors when shaken by the baby.

A very important object of my invention is to provide a rattle which will automatically disconnect the lights from the battery when the rattle is discarded or thrown down by the baby.

\ Another object is the provision of such a rattle with a cord made of elastic or similar material, so that the same may be suspended from the sides of a babys crib or other support, thus predirection and the other edge in the opposite direction, the equivalent of an internal thread for venting breakage of the rattle from being thrown too far by the baby.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent as the description proceeds.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, in which:

Figure l is an elevational view of the device.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of. Figure 1.

Figure ure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line H of Fig-- ure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure ure 2.

In carrying out my invention, I make use of a casing i, preferabl made of plastic or some similar material, which may be translucent or trans- 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig- 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 oiFigparent. This casing comprises an upper section 2,

a lower section 3 a handle 4, and'a cap 5 for closing the end of the handle. 3 are connectible and disconnectible, being joined by any suitable means, as, for ing. Adjacent the points of/joining of shell sections 2 and 3 inwardly from the casing sections. portions serve to support a sounding ring member 8, preferably made of copper or some other electrical conductor. This ring is held between the shelf portions 6 and I by stops 9. It serves to support the lighting element's, comprising electric bulbs l0, of my device. These bulbs are threaded into the ring 8, as clearly shown'in Figures 4 to 6. I have found that these bulbs may be inserted into the ring by simply boring said ring at spaced points with holes H equal to the minor diameter of the threadsoi the electric bulbs and making a slit at the edge of the hole. By bending one edge of the slit in one Sections 2 and' 'baby taking up the same, for play.

receiving the external thread of the electric bulb is produced.. a

The electrical conducting ring 8 is connected to a contact l2 by wire II. The contact l2 engages the uppermost contact ll of battery I5 carried in the handle 4 of the casing. The other contact Hi for engaging the bottom of the battery is forced into engagement with the bottom of said battery by the cap 5, which also serves to press the top contact H of the battery into engagement'with contact II. To complete the electrical circuit for energizing the lamps, a wire I! is carried in the casing from contact la in the top oi section I oi the casing. A conducting wire !9, preferably piano wire or some similarly strong wire, is fused to, or otherwise connected for electrical conduction to wire i1. Wire i9 suspends for swinging motion a ball 20 comprising a clapperQwhich may be made of steel, copper, or any electrical conductor. It is apparent that ball 20 will be swung into contact with the inner. ends of electric lamps l0 when the rattle is shaken in the normal movements of a However, at times the clapper 20 will pm between the bulbs into engagement with the ring 8 whereby to function as a normal rattle without lighting the lamps it. This is indicated in the dotted line views 2i of Figures 5 and 6. Thus, the circuit to any lamp will be completed through the steel ball which contacts the end of that particular lamp, the ring 8 supporting the lamp, wire i3, contact I! and contact id to the battery l5.

Itis also apparent from the above description that when the child discards the rattle and example, threadare shelf parts 6 and 1 extending These shelf v throws it from him, it will normally fall in a horizontal position, in which case the ball will not rest upon the end contact of any lamp, thus automatically assuring de-energization oi the device when not in use. The elastic cord 22 will prevent the child from throwing the rattle sufilciently far to break or dislocate' the parts of the same. The ring 23 on cap 5 provides for attachment of the elastic suspending means 22.

-It is contemplated to make the casing l of vari-colored sections, in which case ordinary lamps of a single color may be used in the device. If the casing is made uniform in color, different colored lamps may be used to advantage. Sultable ornamentation, such as figures of animals, funny faces, and so forth, may be provided on the casing.

lBto astud It is understood that changes in design and minor features 01' construction of the parts may be resorted to, and are contemplated in the use 01' my invention, within the scope of the append- 1 ed claims.

, low, casing, an electrical conducting ring mounted in said casing, apertures in said ring, a. slot extending from each aperture, the edges of said slot being bent inwardly and outwardly, respectively, an electric globe threaded into each one of said apertures, an electric conducting member suspended within said casing and said ring for swinging movement into engagement with the contact end of one of the respective lamps, and an electrical circuit comprising said suspended member, ring and lamps.

2. A baby rattle, comprising a hollow head of translucent insulating material, a spring wire of electric current-conducting material fixed to said head, said wire extending radially inwardly of said head and including a free end, a clapper of current-conducting material fixed to said free end, a stationary contact ring fixed in said head concentrically of said clapper, a plurality of electric bulbs mounted in said ring, said bulbs including base contacts extending radially inwardly of said ring and in insulated relation thereto, a bi-polar battery carried by said rattle, leads connecting the poles of said battery to said ring and spring wire, respectively, and said clapper being intermittently engageable with said base contacts of said bulbs to close circuits thereto upon agitation of said rattle.

3. A baby rattle, comprising a hollow head of translucent insulatin material, a spring wire of electric current-conducting material fixed to said head, said wire extending radially inwardly of said head and including a free end, a clapper of current-conducting material fixed to said free end, a stationary contact ring fixed in said head concentrically of said clapper, aplurality of elec-' tric bulbs mounted in said ring, said bulbs includmg base contacts extending radially inwardly of said ring and'in insulated relation thereto, a bipolar battery carried by said rattle, leads connecting the poles of said battery to said ring and spring wire, respectively, said clapper being intermittently engageable with said base con tacts of said bulbs to close circuits thereto upon Number 4 agitation oi said rattle, and said bulbs being spaced apart to permit at times non-circuit-clos- 111g passage or said clapper therebetween into engagement with said ring.

' 4. A baby rattle, comprising a handle, a spring wire of current-conducting material, means mounting said wire on said handle, said wire including a free end mounting a clapper ofourrent-conducting material, a ring of current-conducting material, means'mounting said ring on said handle in insulated concentric relation to said wire and clapper, a plurality of electric bulbs mounted in said ring, said bulbs including base contacts extending radially inwardly of said ring and in insulated relation thereto, a bi-polar battery carried by said handle inwardly thereof, leads connecting the poles of said battery to said ring and spring wire, respectively, and said clapper being intermittently engageable with said base contacts of said bulbs to close circuits thereto upon agitation of said rattle.

5. A baby rattle, comprising a handle, a spring clapper and a sounding ring carried by said handle with said ring disposed concentrically of said clapper, a plurality of electric bulbs mounted in said ring, said bulbs including base contacts extending radially inwardly of said ring and in insulated relation thereto, a bi-polar battery carried by said handle inwardly thereof, leads connecting the poles of said battery to said bulbs and clapper, respectively, and said clapper being intermittently engageable with said base contacts of said bulbs to close circuits thereto upon agitation of said rattle.

CHARLES A. FLYNN, JR.

REFERENCES orrnn I The following references are .of record in the flle 01' this patent:

UNI'I'ED STATES PATENTS Name Date Cronin Jan. 19, 1897 Hurst Nov. 17, 1903 Train Mar. 12, 1918 Apostoloi! Dec. 30, 1932 Singer Aug. 14, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Jan. 23, 1941 Number 

